India gets first polysilicon solar project

BANGALORE, India  A new polysilicon solar project to be located in the eastern Indian city of Haldia will be established as part of an integrated solar complex, including a power plant, at a total cost of about $1.25 billion.

According to reports here, the polysilicon project will produce 2,500 tons of polysilicon material annually during its first phase and 5,000 tons after two years. A solar farm in the complex will also generate about 250 megawatts of power annually.

Nirupam Sen, minister of industry and commerce for the West Bengal government, said the plant will be configured for future semiconductor manufacturing. He did not elaborate on specific plans.

Jyoti Poddar, managing director of Bhaskar Silicon, said it will partner with Germany's Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG to build the complex. Other partners in the project, some of whom will also be making equity investments, include U.S.-based Perseus.